22 Ways to Have a Healthier Fall

Stay Globally, Eat Locally

Good news on the farm-to-table
front: Now a number of Starwood
hotel restaurants are including local
crops on their menus, whether it's
pecan oil and zucchini from "Farmer
Bob" Mischler at San Antonio's Westin
La Cantera Resort & Spa, or Matsuda-
Fukuyama Farm's eggplant at Oahu's
Sheraton Waikiki.

Flowers should be like friends -- low maintenance and always wildly happy
at your place. Nothing follows this rule like daffodils. October is the perfect time to plant
bulbs in a sunny spot. They'll reward you (and future generations) with
colorful blooms just around the time you're sick of winter.

Chose an Eco-Friendly Rug

As it gets colder, we want softness and warmth underfoot. Because synthetic carpets often contain petrochemicals, area rugs are a healthier solution. (We particularly love Eileen Fisher's recycled leather
ones; from $98; garnethill.com.) Just remember, rugs
trap all those outdoor toxins you bring in on your feet.
Along with vacuuming, beat them regularly: Shake
them outside, then hang them over a clothesline and
take a few whacks with a broom.

Create Your Own Adventure

Got some time
and money
but no idea
where to go?
Check out
kayak.com/explore. The
trip-planning
site lets you
plug in your
wish list (e.g.,
January 2011,
no layovers,
beaches, and
an average
temperature of
80 degrees).
All your options
pop up on
a world map
with price
tags attached.

For the 16th year, Ford is sponsoring
the Susan G. Komen Race
for the Cure. Join the company's
Warriors in Pink by donning charitable
gear (like this 2010 Warrior
scarf, $33; fordcares.com), or create a
patch for a runner or a breast cancer
survivor to add to the site's virtual quilt.

Avoid a Halloween Sugar Crash

Because it's a
given that your
little monsters
will ingest fistfuls
of candy
on Halloween,
help prevent
mood swings
and crashes
by balancing
the sugar rush
with some salt.
Refined carbohydrates,
like
pretzels and
chips, will just
turn to sugar,
so try chicken
soup, sea-salted
nuts,
or turkey on
whole grain
with pickles.

On the reasons-to-love fall list, throwing on the perfect pair of boots ranks right up there with leaf peeping and hot apple cider. Whether you're bound for the office or the orchard, we've got tips on how to pick a pair you can slide into year after year -- and a selection of our latest favorites.

A guffaw may be as beneficial as a
workout. New findings from Loma
Linda University in California support
the evidence that laughter triggers
healthful physiological responses
similar to those produced by exercise.
Subjects who watched rib-tickling
videos experienced positive changes
in blood pressure.

Study author Lee
Berk suggests spending time each
day with people, YouTube videos, or
blogs that crack you up. "A joke break
takes you off the merry-go-round,
the spinning of everyday life," he explains,
and daily laughs may remind
you not to take things too seriously.

Research suggests that the antiviral compounds in black elderberry may help fend off the H1N1 virus. For cold and flu prevention, take a teaspoon of this syrup twice a day. If you're already sick, take a teaspoon every few hours until you feel better. You'll need dried black elderberries -- find them at your health food store or order them from frontiercoop.com.

Want the biggest boost?
Add a splash of milk and a dash of spice. Milk provides
bone-healthy calcium, while cinnamon helps stabilize
blood sugar and nutmeg reduces inflammation. Avoid
nondairy creamer and a lot of sugar: New data suggests
these extras may interfere with nutrient absorption.

Put it On the Books

You know you're more likely to stick with healthy
habits if you track them. This wellness journal from
Moleskine makes it a pleasure, not a chore. The
240-page book has sections to record personal
goals, exercise, doctor's appointments, diet, vitamins,
inspirations, and more. With its signature soft
black cover and creamy pages, the little volume gives
veggies and jogging a Jane Austen-esque sort of
dignity. $20; moleskineus.com

Take an Eco-Friendly Train Ride

The Heartland Flyer, a daily
passenger train from Oklahoma City
to Fort Worth, Texas, has found
a resourceful way to reduce oil
dependency: This year it's testing
a biodiesel blend made with a
beef by-product from the region.

Buy Greener Jeans

Patagonia's new jeans for women are the
ultimate eco-score. Not only is the cotton
for the denim grown without pesticides,
you can drop them at a store when you're
finished wearing them, and the company
will repurpose the fabric. $79 for boot-cut
or straight styles; patagonia.com

Fast Fact800 million: The number of pairs of jeans sold worldwide each year. (Source: U.S. Denim Jeans Market 2009, Lionchase Holdings)

Help a Student in Need

City government belt-tightening
means
classrooms have to do
even more with even
less. You can pitch in
through iloveschools.com. Teachers all over
the country use the
site to post wish lists
of supplies, and donors
help defray the cost.
You can also post items
you have on hand
(a used computer, an
air conditioner, musical
instruments) on the
donor-offer board.

Freshen Up Your Bathroom

Ferns are masters at
clearing indoor air -- in fact,
the Boston fern, left,
tops the list of the most
effective air-purifying
species. And even though
its wild, lush look may
make it seem like a temperamental
houseplant, all
a fern needs to thrive is
high humidity and diffuse
light. Here's a tip: Place
one fern (or many!) in
a bathroom with a window,
and let the warm steam
from the shower act as a
virtual greenhouse.

Steep a Better Pot of Tea

To get an evenly flavored pot of tea, don't
pack the leaves tightly in an infuser. Let
them float freely in a pot and use a
strainer when pouring. Green and white
teas should steep for 1 to 2 minutes;
black, herbal, and oolong for 4 to 5.

Set the Perfect Temperature

Boil, steep, repeat? Sure, it works, but to bring out
the optimum flavor of tea or coffee, you need the
right brewing temperature. Cuisinart's PerfecTemp
Cordless Programmable Kettle makes this insanely
easy. Push the button for your beverage of choice,
and drink with confidence. $100; cuisinart.com

Can your doctor hear what your antidepressants are telling you? Patients on these drugs report side effects such as dry mouth and daytime drowsiness 20 times more frequently than doctors note them in charts, says a recent study.

So where else can you go to find out if your symptoms are typical? MIT engineer Ben Heywood started PatientsLikeMe.com to help his brother, who had recently been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, connect with others in similar situations.

In Chinese medicine, fall represents a return to the roots, a time of restoring and building our qi for the following spring. Whereas summer's expansive energy calls us out -- to backyard gatherings, family vacations, block parties -- autumn speaks to the introvert in each of us, inviting us to get back in touch with our nesting instincts.

Fall is the time to clean, green, and beautify the space in which you'll be spending a lot more time once the weather turns cold. We'll walk you through the basics as well as highlight the more unexpected ways to make your home as warm, welcoming, and healthy as possible -- all while nourishing your spirit in the process.

Take advantage of cooler weather and the change in seasons to update your skin, hair, and makeup routines. Experiment with darker colors, richer formulas, DIY treatments, and these new trends in natural beauty.

Not sure what to do with all of the apples, pumpkin, squash, eggplant, and other fall produce in abundance at your local farmers' market? Visit our Seasonal Foods center for great recipes, menus, and serving suggestions.